May it never be said that trout are the only species that demand fly fishing nuance. Whether it be due to location or preference, some anglers routinely pursue species like bass. Additionally, the waters they frequent aren’t the typical wide smallmouth rivers or vast largemouth lakes. Our nation is covered with small steams that contain …
Tag: Small Streams
In Search of Big Small Trout
Everyone catches small fish. For some, they are the pesky by-catch that must be dealt with and endured. For others, they are a safe, dependable source of fishing, fun, and food. Most anglers start by catching small fish, and all big fish start off being small fish. Under normal circumstances, an eight-inch fish isn’t anything …
Rusty Flybox: You Rolling River
I’ve never lived in the Shenandoah region. But at various points over the years I have been located close enough to become familiar with this spectacular part of the country. And I’ve spent this past week at the foot of the mountains, just outside the park. In and around Shenandoah National Park there are a …
Podcast Ep. 37: Here’s a New Spot for You to Fish
When it comes to reading water, the fly fisher who is observant of details will be rewarded. This way of angling doesn’t mean casting your fly to every square inch of the creek. It entails reading the water at a level that goes beyond riffle, run, pool. Slow down. Think and assess. Don’t just fish …
VIDEO: Best Small Stream Fly Rod for Under $100
One of the great misconceptions about fly fishing is that it costs a lot of money to get started. In some ways, that’s true. There are a lot of specialized types of fly fishing and angling techniques that aren’t easy or possible with entry level gear. And although small stream fly fishing for trout or …
Podcast Ep. 27: How Sneaky Should a Fly Fisher Be?
Folklore and “grandpa always said” make up a great deal of how and why fly fishers approach the water. But do we really need to be quiet, camouflaged, and flat on the ground in order to catch fish? In this episode of the podcast, I look at four things to consider when you’re approaching the …
Podcast Ep. 19: 5 Thoughts for Streamers on Small Streams
Larger fish will certainly eat dry flies and nymphs. But how do you go about catching the largest fish in any river? Big, meaty, streamers. There are differences between chucking articulated flies against the bank of a roaring tailwater and fishing a streamer in a small creek. There are also differences between dapping tiny attractor …
Podcast Ep. 9: Gear for Small Stream Trout – How & What
You can catch fish with virtually any and all gear. That being said, there are certain kinds of gear that are especially suited for specific scenarios. Small stream trout fishing is no exception. Beyond what kind of gear you bring, how you carry it is particularly important. In this episode I discuss some of the …
All About Fly Fishing Plunge Pools
All fly fishers have their go-to spots. Spots they feel are productive; spots that give them confidence. Some people like to fish riffles. Some people like to fish up against the banks. Everyone likes to fish plunge pools. And for good reason. Generally, these spots are the deepest, widest, and fishiest places in a river. …
Consulting on Brook Trout & More with Rob Snowhite
“Snowhite? That’s like, a nickname, right?” Knowing an 18-year-old me, that was probably how my first interaction with Rob Snowhite went. I had just started working at the Orvis store in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Rob and a handful of guys in their twenties had been there for a while already. I learned a lot about …